{image1}A lot of bands that are part of the Milwaukee scene have roots elsewhere in the state, including The Danger from Twin Lakes.
This self-described "band of spastic evangelical preachers trapped in young mens' bodies" released an eponymous debut disc in summer 2003 and has just issued a five-song EP called "Sketches from a Small Room," which sounds a bit like Richard Hell-era Television with Paul McCartney (circa 1966) on bass.
We asked singer Thomas Culkin five questions about his band, which also includes guitarists Richard Allen IV and Jimmy Black, bassist Michael Stanley and drummer Jered Jonathan.
OMC: How and when did The Danger get its start?
TC: The band started about three years ago; the two guitar players and I had been in various punk outfits in and around the Kenosha area. Jimmy and Ricky were in a band which hadn't really come to fruition -- so they disbanded. I came into the picture through a series of conversations with Jimmy about music, which began to form the creative philosophy of the band. I found our bass player walking around the UW-Parkside campus, where I go to school, and brought him to practice. He basically started playing bass the day he walked into our practice spot. He had been a guitar player for years, though. Our first and second drummers left the band within the first year. Our current drummer joined the group about a year and a half ago and has recorded twice with us, as well as done some 40 performances with us.
OMC: The band's music is an interesting mix of sounds. What influences does each band member bring to the mix?
TC: Like all bands, we come to the table with different influences, and we all listen to a huge library of music, but I think the music that most influences our own is definitely the Beatles, and The Who, along with The Stooges, Muddy Waters, the Stones, the Velvet Underground, especially "Loaded," T-Rex, a lot of New York punk: Patti Smith, Richard Hell, the (New York) Dolls, obviously the Ramones, the (Sex) Pistols, The Damned, The Clash. I basically say we are influenced by British Invasion, glam and early punk.
I think that we are like other bands in that we have members that are inspired by many different musicians, but unlike other bands we encourage that diversity and aspire to have our music reflect that. We want our music to change and transform as we do, that's the only way we are going to stay interested.
OMC: Are you working on another full-length disc? If so, when can we expect it?
TC: Currently we are working on new material through the winter with the possibility of putting out a three-song single late this winter and/or a full length come next spring. I'm busy writing in my bedroom.
OMC: How has reaction been to the Web distribution of your music been going? Lots of downloads?
TC: The Web site we put together has actually become pretty important to our operations, as well as making our music as accessible to the public as possible. Although simply having a Web site is not enough for promoting your group, not having one is pretty much totally hindering. The thing about the Web is that you can never have enough exposure, and that's important when trying to have your music heard.
OMC: Would you ever consider "releasing" a disc only via the Web?
TC: I think if we could find a way to release songs via the Web and cover recording costs, I don't see why we wouldn't do it; it would be great considering the cost of printing CDs. As of right now we haven't yet considered doing a Web-exclusive LP, per se, but doing a single or something to that effect seems feasible.
The Danger offers a number of tracks, including demos, live cuts and entire tracks from the two discs via its Web site at no cost. But buying the CDs allows the band to continue making music. The Danger's Web site is thedanger.net.
The Danger plays Tuesday, Nov. 2 at the Cactus Club in Bay View. Wear your "I Voted" sticker for free admission.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
